Founding Lead Recruiter
About the Company
This is a Series A robotics startup operating at the intersection of advanced robotics and renewable energy. The company builds and deploys robotic systems that automate the most labor-intensive aspects of solar farm construction — directly addressing a critical bottleneck slowing the world's transition to clean energy. Backed by top-tier generalist and climate tech investors, the team is small, fast-moving, and deeply mission-driven.
About the Role
As the Founding Lead Recruiter, you'll be the first dedicated recruiting hire and a founding member of the people function. You'll own talent acquisition end-to-end — building processes from the ground up, partnering closely with engineering and leadership, and delivering an outstanding candidate and new-hire experience. Your work will have a direct and measurable impact on the company's ability to scale its team and, ultimately, accelerate the adoption of solar energy.
What You'll Do
Build the talent function and recruiting infrastructure from scratch, including processes, tools, and frameworks
Own the full recruitment lifecycle: sourcing, screening, interviewing, offer negotiation, and closing
Partner with hiring managers across engineering, product, and leadership to understand needs and deliver timely, high-quality hires
Source and engage candidates for highly technical roles — including embedded systems, mechanical, and software engineering
Design and lead a standout onboarding experience for new hires
Build and maintain a strong employer brand to attract mission-aligned talent
Develop recruiting metrics and reporting to drive continuous improvement
Manage and optimize ATS and other HR technologies
What We're Looking For
Required:
5–10 years of recruiting experience, ideally in a startup environment (Series A or equivalent)
Proven track record recruiting for hardware and/or robotics engineering roles (embedded systems, mechanical engineering, software engineering)
Experience building or scaling a recruiting function from an early stage
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, and leadership
Experience designing and leading onboarding processes for new hires
Metrics-driven mindset with comfort using data to guide decisions
Proficiency with ATS platforms and modern HR technologies
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills
Detail-oriented and highly organized, with an ability to manage multiple open roles simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Nice to Have:
Passion for climate tech, renewable energy, or robotics
Experience recruiting candidates from robotics, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing backgrounds
Prior experience at a company that scaled from seed/Series A to later stages
Location & Work Arrangement
This role is on-site in San Leandro, California. The team works together in person and values close collaboration. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary commensurate with experience
Significant equity compensation reflecting the founding nature of the role
Opportunity to shape company culture and people operations from the ground up
Direct climate impact through your work every day